LSU tops preseason college baseball poll

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The expectations for the 2019 LSU baseball team are very high this year and so are the preseason rankings.

The latest poll released by Perfect Game ranks LSU No. 1 in the country, followed by (2) Oregon State, (3) Vanderbilt, (4) UCLA, and (5) Texas Tech.

The Tigers are set for another run at the College World Series, returning five starters, six pitchers, and the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.

Pitcher Eric Walker and shortstop Josh Smith return to the lineup this year after season ending injuries in 2018.

LSU is guided by Paul Mainieri, whose Tigers finished as the runner-up just two years ago with several familiar faces. Outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson and staff ace Zack Hess were all drafted yet returned for another season. Shortstop Josh Smith and another starting pitcher, Eric Walker, missed most or all of the 2018 season due to injuries and appear to be ready to return healthy and strong.